Role of Resistance Training in Mitigating Risk for Mobility Disability in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

To examine the effects of community-based resistance training (RT) on physical function for older adults with mobility disability. Four databases (PubM, PubMed, MEDLINE, Ovid, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health, Web of Science) were searched from inception to February 2, 2021. Randomized controlled trials that examined community-based RT for improving physical function in community-dwelling older adults were included. Two reviewers independently conducted title and abstract screening, full-text evaluation, data extraction, and risk of bias quality assessment. Twenty-four studies (3656 participants; age range, 63-83 years) were included. RT programs ranged from 10 weeks to 18 months in duration. RT was more effective than control in improving 6-minute walk test distance (n=638; mean difference [MD], 16.1m; 95% CI, 12.27-19.94; P